Chapter 2:  The Lost Girl

And before the next rise Sim was gone. Alex knew it by stank. However annoying it was, the sensitive nose, a side effect of the Tria-Dust, could really come in handy at times. After the girl had run off, there was a short moment of clarity to her. Fresh air. She had gone outside to think about what to do with this girl and then suddenly it was everywhere. Rotten flesh. Burnt skin. A smell so disgusting that it managed to waver Alex’s numbing stoicism for a short moment. Even though it was just disgust, they are not used to feeling that kind of primal instinct usually. That short-lived emotional outburst was a welcomed change to the cursed wanderer. After that moment has passed and the staggering sense of clarity snuck back into the mind, Alex could not help but to acknowledge the severity of it all. Apparently it has come all the way down from its throne of bones and thorns, just for this girl. Sim was her name. Of course Mel took her in. And whatever the reason, death has taken a liking to her. The Old Wanderer smiles, looking forward to the future for a change because it was obvious that it was high time for them to have a conversation with the Rouge Knight of Puppets. What a time to be still alive.

“What did you do to her?” Mel was there. “Me? Nothing.” Mel shook her head. “Come on, I just talked to Sim, she was completely upset.” The Old Wanderer turned around, took their mask off and glared into Mel’s eyes: “Mel, be honest with me, you always were a smart girl. Don’t act like you do not know what is wrong with her.” Mel averted her gaze: “We all face our demons.” “Yes, and some are the ones you can not just shrug off.” Mel looked up again: “What did you say to her?” “Just asking questions.” They did not want to play games with Mel, Mel deserved better, so the Old Wanderer elaborated: “Look: From the moment I met Sim, I could tell something did not smell quite right… and she felt it too, she was hurt just by the presence of my curse. When I feel something like that, I have to get to the bottom of it, because I have to know what kind of games the gods are playing around me.” “Oh, come on, not…” “Mel, be reasonable for a minute. We both know there are vicious things going on on this stream and yes, it sucks, but your new project, Sim, was doomed to get involved with it and I think I know who it is, that this poor girl is affected by. I could smell death on her.”

They took a deep breath, before they continued speaking: “I know you just want Sim to be happy. If I am correct, this is a demon Sim just has to face and I only want to help her in facing it the right way.” Mel sighed out loud. Then she asked: “Okay, what is your plan?” “Well… First we have to find her.” “What?” “Sim is gone.” “No! I just talked to her.” It must have happened right after. “Well now she is not here anymore.”

“That can’t be!” Mel stormed off.